greybeard
06-01-03, 11:45 PM
This wonderful poem was written just a few weeks ago by a talented young lady with strong family ties to the Corps. Her Father, brother, & husband are all Marines. The poem was read during Memorial Day ceremonies at The Wall last week. With the permission of the author, Camille Nelson, Leatherneck's newest member (yellowrose), I post it here for the membership. This came from the heart.
THE HOUNDS OF HELL
By Camille N. Nelsen
The Hounds of Hell
Used to wake him from his sleep
The Hounds of Hell
Were snarling at his feet
The Hounds of Hell
Stole his peace of mind
The Hounds of Hell
Were only Hounds of Time.
The Time now past
Would forever leave its mark
The Time now past
Burned its brand on his heart
The Time now past
No dimmer than before
The Time now past
Was once a day of War.
The days of War
Live vivid in his soul
The days of War
We forget as he grows old
The days of War
Haunt him as no other
The days of War
Turned strangers into brothers.
Beside his Brothers
They fought the Hounds of Hell
Beside his Brothers
Were stories they would tell
Beside his Brothers
War ravaged its ugly pain
Without his Brothers
He'd never be seen again.
Never seen again
No words are spoken here
Never seen again
He seemed to disappear
Never seen again
Until one day the Light
Never seen again
Until he left the Fight.
The Fight long gone
Took its toll in his eyes
The Fight long gone
Betrayed truth into lies
The Fight long gone
Grows weary with his hand
The Fight long gone
Screams silently, THE BAND.
The Band once sealed
The fate of Brotherhood
The Band once sealed
A time of greater good
The Band once sealed
Promises to be kept
The Band once sealed
Their weakness as they wept.
The Weeping still
Comes and goes as it pleases
The Weeping still
Only begs to find the reason
The Weeping now
Binds like no other
The Weeping now
Is amongst this Band of Brothers.
The Band of Brothers
Their stories fight to tell,
The Band of Brothers
Defeated
The Hounds of Hell.
THE HOUNDS OF HELL
By Camille N. Nelsen
The Hounds of Hell
Used to wake him from his sleep
The Hounds of Hell
Were snarling at his feet
The Hounds of Hell
Stole his peace of mind
The Hounds of Hell
Were only Hounds of Time.
The Time now past
Would forever leave its mark
The Time now past
Burned its brand on his heart
The Time now past
No dimmer than before
The Time now past
Was once a day of War.
The days of War
Live vivid in his soul
The days of War
We forget as he grows old
The days of War
Haunt him as no other
The days of War
Turned strangers into brothers.
Beside his Brothers
They fought the Hounds of Hell
Beside his Brothers
Were stories they would tell
Beside his Brothers
War ravaged its ugly pain
Without his Brothers
He'd never be seen again.
Never seen again
No words are spoken here
Never seen again
He seemed to disappear
Never seen again
Until one day the Light
Never seen again
Until he left the Fight.
The Fight long gone
Took its toll in his eyes
The Fight long gone
Betrayed truth into lies
The Fight long gone
Grows weary with his hand
The Fight long gone
Screams silently, THE BAND.
The Band once sealed
The fate of Brotherhood
The Band once sealed
A time of greater good
The Band once sealed
Promises to be kept
The Band once sealed
Their weakness as they wept.
The Weeping still
Comes and goes as it pleases
The Weeping still
Only begs to find the reason
The Weeping now
Binds like no other
The Weeping now
Is amongst this Band of Brothers.
The Band of Brothers
Their stories fight to tell,
The Band of Brothers
Defeated
The Hounds of Hell.